Business

The UK economy is losing as much as £3.5 billion a year as tens of thousands of women leave the technology sector amid stalled career progression, unequal pay and weak leadership pipelines, according to a new landmark report released to mark Ada Lovelace Day. The 2025 Lovelace Report: Unlocking £2–3.5 Billion, published on Tuesday, reveals that between 40,000 and 60,000 …

Retail sales growth cooled sharply last month as households tightened budgets ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s November Budget and heavy storms kept shoppers off the high street. Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG show retail sales rose 2.3% year on year in the five weeks to October 4, down from 3.1% in the previous period. Although still …

Larry Ellison, the billionaire founder of Oracle, is deepening his commitment to Britain’s innovation economy with an additional £890 million investment in the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), dramatically expanding its footprint at Oxford Science Park. The move comes as the 81-year-old tycoon faces scrutiny over the institute’s leadership and direction following a year of internal upheaval. Yet the fresh …

Retail technology platform Patchworks has secured £5 million in new funding to accelerate its expansion into the United States and scale its next generation of AI-powered integration tools for enterprise retailers. The round, led by existing backer Gresham House Ventures with growth lending from Palatine Growth Credit, comes as the company reports a 41 per cent year-on-year increase in annual …

Sophia Rosing’s story is one built on resilience, discipline, and community spirit. Growing up as the youngest in a large family, she learned quickly how to adapt, share, and stand strong. From soccer fields to cheerleading practice, her early years were full of energy, teamwork, and lessons that carried forward into her adult life. “My family always taught me that …

Jane Coogan is a Partner at Coogan Smith, LLP, based in Attleboro, Massachusetts. A trusted solicitor with more than 15 years of experience, she specializes in estate planning, business formation, succession planning, and probate and estate administration. Her approach blends technical expertise with empathy, helping clients navigate complex legal and personal decisions with confidence and care. Born and raised in …

In today’s job market, employers want more than enthusiasm. They want professionals who can analyse data, manage teams, and deliver results. Postgraduate study can build those career-ready skills, preparing individuals for leadership and specialist roles in industries ranging from healthcare to technology. Institutions like the Walbrook Institute London reflect this change. Their postgraduate pathways go beyond classroom knowledge. They are …

KARACHI: In a move aimed at strengthening stakeholder engagement and streamlining customs-related grievance redressal, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Secretariat has officially appointed Mr. Qamar-ul-Islam, Vice Chairman of the All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA), as the Honorary Coordinator (Customs Matters) for the Karachi region. Mr. Qamar-ul-Islam replaces Mr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Anwar in this key liaison role. The appointment …

The Open University (OU) has joined forces with NatWest and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to relaunch the Open Business Creators Fund, a nationwide initiative offering early-stage women entrepreneurs financial support, mentoring, and access to training resources. Launched in a video message by Baroness Martha Lane Fox, Chancellor of The Open University, the competition offers individual grants of …

The UK head of Fujitsu Services Limited, the company behind the Post Office’s disastrous Horizon IT system, has received a 50% pay rise — despite the firm still refusing to quantify compensation for hundreds of wrongly convicted sub-postmasters. The Japan-owned technology giant handed its best-paid UK executive — believed to be Anwen Owen, Fujitsu’s UK chief — £591,000 in total …